Talen by Shay Savage is LIVE!

♦ ♦ ♦

 

In a world plagued by constant earthquakes and volcanic debris, people in the valley struggle to survive while those on top of the hill want for nothing.

This is where I come in.

I spend my nights plundering supplies in the walled city of Hilltop, and I trade them to the valley people below. I’m not a thief.  I prefer to be known as the head of Lost and Found.

When I discover a beautiful but dangerous competitor in my territory, I also learn she knows more about me than she should. Is she a spy sent by my father, or is she a rebel like me? I don’t trust her, but together we’ll discover secrets that may destroy what’s left of our world.

There have always been those with wealth and those without.

My name is Talen, and I’m here to even the score.

 

♦ ♦ ♦

4 stars

 

My favorite thing about Shay Savage's books are that they aren't your typical romance. Any book I pick up of hers isn't going to be like a book I just read. Talen is another unique story. It's a post-apocalyptic read with a touch of romance and it's one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Talen takes place over 100 years after our time. It's a world where over half the US and it's population have been destroyed by earthquakes. There's not a lot left, not enough resources for all, and the country is very much divided. There are the haves, who have plenty, and the have nots, who have nothing. Talen used to be a have, but he's spent his life helping the have nots.

Talen steals from the rich to give to the poor. He runs what he calls his own little 'lost and found'. I loved him and his character. He was strong and brutal when he needed to be, but his heart was always in the right place. He does what he needs to survive and help others survive as well. He meets a girl who changes everything he thinks he knows about the world he's living in and they go on a quest of sorts.

The things he finds out, he almost can't believe it. Aerin shows him things he had no clue about and in that process, he starts to fall for her. I liked Aerin's character, but Talen really stole the show for me. Still, I loved them together. I was anxious to see how this one would end. There were moments I was on pins and needles and was worried about how it would all turn out. I shouldn't have worried though- the ending was great.

Talen was a story that kept my attention from start to finish. I was captivated. I love books that are original and have some twists and turns I don't see coming. This book was another win from Savage and one I'd recommend if you're looking for something other than your typical romance.

   

"I'm yours," I whisper in her ear, "completely and totally yours."

♦ ♦ ♦

Shay Savage is an independent author from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lives with her family and a variety of household pets.  She is an accomplished public speaker and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. Her hobbies include off-roading in her big, yellow Jeep, science fiction in all forms, and soccer.  Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.

From the author: “It’s my job to make you FEEL.  That doesn’t always mean you’ll feel good, but I want my readers to be connected enough to my characters to care.”

Savage’s books many books span a wide variety of topics and sub-genres with deeply flawed characters.  From cavemen to addicts to hitmen, you’ll find yourself falling for these seemingly irredeemable characters!